Tribute from Paul Couchman, Branch Secretary of Surrey County UNISON We found out last week that our friend and comrade, Sandra Ayliffe, has died from the Coronavirus. This was Sandra (third from left) protesting about 15 years ago, with colleagues and residents, against the closure of The Summers care home where she worked. Sandra was […]

The Isle of Wight Local Government Branch are so proud of our Assistant Branch Secretary, Barbara Milton, who is currently going the extra mile on the Island to ensure there are enough scrubs for the NHS and local care homes. Barbara was keen to help out, recognising that our key workers and carers are putting […]

Council staff in Milton Keynes with underlying health conditions or with family members in vulnerable groups – who’ve previously been off at home – are being ordered back to work, in a move criticised today (Thursday) by UNISON. UNISON says social workers, care staff, library staff, environmental health officers, school support staff and other council […]

UNISON is used to organising events that bring people together. But when Covid-19 means we need to show support for each other by keeping our distance, then the way that we bring people together looks very different. On Tuesday 28 April, our union was one of those that called for a minute’s silence in memory of […]

Jenny Ford, Branch Secretary at Portsmouth Health, has seen rapid changes in the hospitals in Solent NHS Trust. As Facilities manager for St James’ Hospital (a mental health hospital) and St Mary’s (a community hospital), Jenny divides her time between the two sites. Jenny spoke to us about the challenges her team have faced responding […]

First of all, I hope you, your families, your colleagues and your friends are all staying safe and keeping well. This week I have been speaking to branch secretaries across the South East, starting with our health branches, to make sure that we, as a region, offer the best support and assistance during this time. The stories I have heard from the frontlines of the Covid-19 crisis have been truly harrowing. I have heard of large–scale redeployments, with many activists now working […]

Eastleigh UNISON are so proud of their members actions during this difficult time. Many staff working for Eastleigh Borough Council have been redeployed and are now undertaking different roles in order to support areas that are under pressure due to the current pandemic. Branch Secretary Karen Springham would especially like to thank staff for their […]

On 28th April, we mark Workers Memorial Day. For trade unions like UNISON across the world, this is the day when we remember those who have been killed, injured or made sick at work. And when we do so, we use it as a reminder that trade unions need to continue to fight for proper […]

Data published today (Tuesday) by the Office for National Statistics shows that more than a thousand deaths in care homes and in the community were registered up to 10 April. In the South East alone, there have been 170 deaths in care homes as a result of Covid-19 with the highest number in Surrey (36). Responding to […]